The most famous ghost ship is the Flying Dutchman, which I knew nothing about other than the fact there was a vessel by that name and there was a movie made about it, set sail in 1680 and the first time it was spotted was about 200 years later and various more sightings ever since. Sounds believable!
HUBPages Contributor Teresa Coppens tells the stories behind The Flying Dutchman and three other ships: the Mary Celeste, the Octavius, and the Caleuche.
Famous Ghost Ships
- According to legend, the Mary Celeste was found abandoned, the crew disappeared and the only trace they left behind was their last meal. An unexplained mystery to this very day. But there is no shortage of theories.
- The Octavius left London in 1761 with the goal of transporting cargo to China. The intended destination was reached but on the return voyage, the ship got stuck in the Arctic ice because the captain thought he could take a shortcut to get back to England. Discovered thirteen years later. Guess where the vessel AND the entire crew were found?
- The story of the Caleuche is a legend in Chilota mythology. There are water spirits (with cute names: Sirena Chilota, Pincoya and Picoy), a ship with a mind of its own, lost shipwrecked souls brought back to life to party with music and laughter, kidnapped fishermen who have to serve the happy people, warlocks, and sorcerers allowed to come on board but not permitted to mess with the partying passengers. The people of southern Chile may truly believe it, but unbelievers like me would say the tales are loaded with the stuff of Halloween.
Famous Ghost Ships
Ghost ships bring to mind vessels materializing from a fog shrouded ocean. These ships represent a number of mysterious possibilites: manifestation of a tragedy that befell the crew of a long ago vessel; vessels found floating without crew, all hands on board missing and a mysterious tale begging to explain the tragedy.
I am also a HUBPages Contributor using the pen name "cmoneyspinner1tf". My HUB tells the stories of lost ships. Not ghost ships. These vessels were lost but then found.
True Stories of Ships Lost at Sea
True Stories of Ships Lost at Sea
In the Walt Disney film "Shipwrecked" (1990), a young boy whose sailor-father is injured and can no longer work as a seaman. The 14-year old boy must take his father's place and work to earn money for his family. On his first voyage, the ship sinks because of a hurricane and he ends up on a jungle island.
